A dancer for over 17 years, and Argentine tango dancer since Oct 2000, Jonathan Yamauchi studied in Buenos Aires, intensely in private, with Carlos Gavito for three years before his mentor passed away in July 2005. Gavito’s internationally renowned sensuous and intimate close embrace style constitutes the core of Yamauchi’s tango. Shortly before Gavito’s death he shared with Yamauchi that “He would be a good representative of his style in the United States.”

Yamauchi has also studied, privately and intensely, with the following individuals in Buenos Aires: Oscar Mandagaran, who performed in Forever Tango with Carlos Gavito; Mimi Santapa, known as the 'Grand Dame' of tango choreography in Buenos Aires; and locally with Nora Dinzelbacher, Yanina Messina and Genarro Perez Marino and Paulo Araujo. Jonathan has participated in group intensive classes with Pulpo and Luiza, Luciana Valle, Ed and Corina Balmeceda, Dan Lapadula, Orlando Paiva Jr., Graciela Gonzales, Nito and Elba, Pompa and Valleria, Jorge Torres, Claudia and Esteban, Cecelia Gonzales, and Gustavo Nivera.

Olivia Levitt’s dancing is exquisite. With over 25 years of classical ballet training, she was a principal dancer in the New York Theater Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet Theater and the Oakland Ballet. Olivia has toured and performed in Russia, Venezuela, Aruba, Australia, and Canada. Her classical training gives her an astute insight into technique that allows her to create beautiful adornments and express delicacy in movement.

Olivia is a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic practitioner who teaches others to utilize their body mechanics in a way that delights the eyes with sensuality and intimacy in movement and response. Olivia began her initial tango training in San Francisco with Nora Dinzelbacher and Roberto Riobo. She has learned the Gavito style from Yamauchi and has also studied extensively with George Garcia (another understudy of Gavito), Marianna Dragone, Oscar Mandagaran, Pulpo and Luiza, Maria Plazaola and Claudia and Esteban. Together, Jonathan and Olivia focus on teaching the physiology and fundamental technique behind their sensual and intimate movements in the Gavito style of intimate close embrace, sharing with their students the key that will allow them to fully express their internal sensuality through the external form -- tango.